Shower Surround Panels vs. Tiles: Pros and Cons

It’s important to get the right wall covering for your bathroom. A good choice can add to your space’s appearance as well as its functionality. Two of the most popular choices in front of you today are shower panels or tiles. 

While shower wall tiles have been used extensively in the past, shower wall panels have emerged as an effective alternative due to newer shower designs and technology. They certainly seem to be full of promise.

So, why don’t we help you choose between the two bathroom wall finishings by giving you a detailed analysis of their pros and cons? You can opt for either shower panels or tiles depending on your bathroom needs. 

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What is a shower panel?

A shower wall panel is a hardwearing, waterproof wall covering that’s tough enough to be fitted inside shower cubicles or other wet areas in the bathroom. The best part is that they come in a wide variety of colors, finishes, and materials, including acrylic, cultured stone, and decorative PVC composite. 

Now that you know what shower panels are, it’s time to compare them with bathroom tiles. Here’s a look at their pros and cons. We hope this helps you decide on either shower panels or tiles for the perfect bathroom design. 

Shower panels pros

1. Easy to clean due to the absence of grout joints

It’s no secret that grout joints require a lot of maintenance. You’ve got to scrub them regularly in order to keep a sparkling clean bathroom. Shower panels are grout-less and hence easy to clean — giving your room a slick and modern look. Moreover, because shower wall panels are non-porous in nature, they don’t absorb moisture and dirt. You can simply wipe them with a cloth. 

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2. Quicker and cleaner installation

No matter which type of wall panel system you choose for your bathroom, the panels are easy to install. All you need are the panels and some common woodworking equipment such as a circular saw or a carpenter’s knife. Here are some of the steps of a typical shower panel installation: 

• Get a moisture-resistant drywall
• Apply high-quality adhesives to the wall panels
• Just hang the sheets up and seal the joints

Laminated wall panels are even simpler to put up. The wall panels are attached to an OSB board, sealed, and then trimmed. And, that’s that! There’s very little mess or dust involved.  

In contrast, tile installation can be quite a pain involving heavy cement board underlayment, cutting and setting the tiles, as well as grouting the wall. The process is time-consuming, tedious, dirty, and expensive!

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3. Shower wall panels vs ceramic: What about the price?

Often sold in wall kit form, shower wall panels are really cost-effective. They’re often cheaper than tiles and a great choice if you’re on a tight budget for your bathroom remodel or have a property that you’re looking to flip in a low-rent neighborhood. Of course, if you go for luxury shower panels, you’ll have to shell out a good amount of money. 

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4. Available in a variety of colors and finishes

When it comes to wall panels, there are many choices. For instance, if you’re looking for a sleek all-glass interior, you can opt for high gloss wall panels. You can even choose between a matte, marble-like, or sparkly finish.  

From the low-cost fiberglass and acrylic shower panels to the realistic-looking decorative PVC or laminate wall panels — there’s something for everyone.

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5. Leak-resistant

Since shower wall panels are non-porous, you don’t have to worry about leaks, mold, and mildew, or spending money on expensive bathroom renovations such as replacing the shower, subfloor, or ceiling.  

Shower panels cons

1. Suitable only for shower cubicles; not for the whole bathroom

An overwhelming amount of boards in your bathroom will make your space look a little too clinical. It’s best to use the panels only within your shower enclosures. 

2. A damaged board requires complete replacement

A huge downside to installing shower panels is that following any damage to a particular area, you’ll need a full shower replacement. Unlike a tiled bathroom where you can just replace the defective tile, here, the bathroom remodeling is more extensive — and hence more expensive.

3. Ceiling height is an issue

Since most bathroom shower panels come with a maximum length of 7.9 feet, it can lead to problems when it comes to bathrooms with high ceilings. You’ll have to join two boards — a solution that might ruin the sleek finish of the panels. 

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4. PVC is plastic and easy to damage

As easy is PVC to maintain, it’s easier to damage too. Since plastic is hard, flexible, and brittle, there’s more chance of it breaking, cracking, bumping, or scratching. 

5. It’s not the real thing

Even if you have panels mimicking marble or wood, it’s still a fake effect. If you think your plasticky acrylic wall panel will look like real subway tiles or your cultured stone shower panel or solid surface panels will be as rich as a stone wall, you have another think coming! 

6. Limited choice compared to tiles

While there’s no dearth of options when it comes to panel colors and finishes, you might not get a huge choice when it comes to sizes, textures, and designs of panels. With tiles, on the other hand, the sky’s the limit!

Bathroom tiles pros 

1. It’s as real as it gets

A tiled bathroom gives off a good feel. There’s nothing plasticky about either the material or the finish. In spite of (or maybe because of them!) the indented grout lines, there’s something rich about bathroom tiles. 

2. Fully customizable

With a ceramic tile shower, you can always get what you want. So, if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind design or a custom finish, bathroom tile is your answer. You can mix infinite tile patterns, add borders, etc.

3. Eco-friendlier than shower wall panels

If you want to do your best for the planet, opting for natural building materials such as tiles is a smart decision. Most of the tiles are known for their durability and organic roots.

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4. Tiles are not bulky or heavy

In contrast to heavy wall panels, tiles are much easier to move around at the time of installation. If you’ve got a tight space with lots of angles and cuts, it’s so much easier to bring up boxes of tiles and cut them to fit the wall or ceiling.

5. Easily available, and in a range of styles

It’s a lot easier to source bathroom tiles. You can find the best of tiles in your local hardware store or online. Want the Mediterranean mosaic tile design, a fish scale design, or a vertically laid glass tile? You can get the exact pattern you have in your mind… and heart! 

6. Easier to maneuver around curves

Tiles have the ability to work around curved walls. Unlike wall panels, you can easily maneuver them according to your bathroom’s curvature. 

Bathroom tiles cons

Photo by Christa Grover on Unsplash CC0

1. Grout joints absorb moisture and lead to mildew

Grout or the concrete-like material, used to install tiles, is porous. Therefore, there’s a greater probability of it becoming home to mold and mildew. Regular cleaning helps to slow down the deterioration of course, but since mildew is hard to remove, it might require professional cleaning in the future.

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2. High maintenance

There’s no denying that cleaning your bathroom tiles on a regular basis is a MUST. Or, you’ll eventually see visible soap scum, dark, and moldy joints. 

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3. Tedious and expensive installation

Tiles are more difficult to install than panels on walls and ceilings. Each piece has to be set one by one. The process involves a lot of dust and mess!

Furthermore, tiling a shower is expensive too. The installation cost can range from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the design and size of the shower. 

Conclusion

Now that you’ve sifted through the pros and cons of shower panels and tiles, it’ll be easier for you to find one clear-cut winner for your bathroom. Whether you choose shower panels or tiles, we hope this guide helps you in designing the shower of your dreams!

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Written by Ramona Sinha. March 25, 2020

Ramona is a content writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depths of her soul.